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Steve Sturm, IlliniGuys Football Analyst

December 21, 2023

Illinois lost a big portal commitment when Clay Patterson of Yale reneged on his commitment to the Illini, but they added a similarly talented player a few days later when Youngstown State's Anthony Johnson committed to the Illini over several high major offers.

Vernon Woodward was the first of the three Illinois signees in this 2024 recruiting class that was flipped from an initial commitment of a Big Ten Conference program. 

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Football Writer/Analyst

December 20, 2023

(Cover photo courtesy Illinois Athetics)

Player: Vernon Woodward

Position: Cornerback

Height: 6-foot-2

Weight: 180

Hometown: Winter Park, Fla.

High School: Winter Park

Other offers: UCF, Wisconsin, Boston College, Cincinnati, Florida Atlantic, Louisville, Georgia Tech, Louisville, Maryland, Missouri, Ole Miss, Purdue, and Virginia.

Mark Vernon Woodward down as the first of three verbal pledge flips toward Illinois after the prospect had given a commitment to a Big Ten Conference rival program. 

A 20-year friendship between a Florida high school head coach and Illinois head coach Bret Bielema results in another recruiting victory for Bielema’s college program.

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Football Writer/Analyst

December 20, 2023

(Cover photo courtesy Illinois Athletics)

Player:  Amar Reynolds

Position: Cornerback

Height: 6-foot-1

Weight: 175

Hometown: Vero Beach, Fla.

High School: Vero Beach

Other offers: Charlotte, Florida A&M, Indiana, Western Kentucky, and Middle Tennessee State

The recruitment of Amar Reynolds to Illinois is more of a product in a lot of ways of who you know than what you know.

The Illinois football coaching staff believes they’ve signed the nation’s best FBS-ready pass rusher in the nation in the form of Hutchinson Community College edge Daniel Brown.

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Football Writer/Analyst

December 20, 2023

(Cover photo courtesy Illinois Athletics)

Player: Daniel Brown

Position: Outside Linebacker

Height: 6-foot-1

Weight: 240

Hometown: Kansas City, Mo.

Transfer School: Hutchinson C.C.

Other offers: Alabama State, Buffalo, and Alcorn State.

During the Illinois bye week in October, Illini head coach Bret Bielema visited multiple junior colleges in the Iowa and Kansas area during that five-day period.

Illinois recruited junior college cornerback Chase Canada’s older brother in 2022 and while they lost that battle to TCU, the Illini picked up the younger brother from the same program just a year later. 

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Football Writer/Analyst

December 20, 2023

(Cover photo courtesy Illinois Athletics)

Player: Chase Canada

Position: Cornerback

Height: 6-foot-0

Weight: 185

Hometown: Richmond, Texas

Transfer School: Trinity Valley C.C.

Other offers: Charlotte, UConn and Georgia Southern.

The successful recruitment Chase Canada started with Illinois head coach Bret Bielema recruiting a cornerback named Channing Canada out of Trinity Valley Community College in Athens, Texas. Channing eventually would select TCU as his next destination as he recorded 20 tackles, one tackle for loss and a sack in the 2023 campaign with the Horned Frogs. 

Illinois head coach Bret Bielema claims he recognizes that injuries decimating his program’s line play on both sides of the ball, similarly to what happened in 2023, can’t occur again. 

Matt Stevens, IlliniGuys Staff Writer

December 20, 2023

CHAMPAIGN — The Illinois head football coach entered this past summer quietly worried about how thin their depth was on both sides of the line-of-scrimmage and that fear came to reality quickly into the 2023 campaign.

As long as he holds that position at the University of Illinois, Bret Bielema never wants to have that feeling again. 

The only question that remains for junior college signee Mario Sanders is how many different ways Illinois offensive coordinator Barry Lunney Jr. will want to get him involved in the scheme. 

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Football Writer/Analyst

December 20, 2023

(Cover photo courtesy Illinois Athletics)

Player: Mario Sanders

Position: Wide Receiver 

Height: 5-foot-10

Weight: 190

Hometown: Minneapolis

Transfer: Iowa Central C.C.

Other offers: Eastern Kentucky, UNI, Sam Houston State, and Utah State.

The Illinois football coaching staff believes Sanders, who led all National Junior College Athletics Association players during this past 2023 season in receptions (72), finished second in receiving yards (942) and tied for first in receiving touchdowns (12), could be an instant impact slot receiver starting in the upcoming 2024 season. 

Trey Petty maintained his verbal pledge to Illinois for months despite being heavily pursued by local Southeastern Conference power programs. 

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Football Writer/Analyst

December 20, 2023

(Cover photo courtesy Illinois Athletics)

Player: Trey Petty

Position: Quarterback 

Height: 6-foot-0

Weight: 200

Hometown: Starkville, Miss.

High School: Starkville

Other offers: Mississippi State, Ole Miss, Georgia Tech, Indiana, San Diego State, Southern Miss and Tulsa.

The talk of everybody outside of the Petty household was whether the Starkville (Miss.) High School quarterback would keep his commitment to Illinois. 

This talk however did not exist within the Petty household and the Smith Family Football Complex.